Is the Disney transportation good?

[jenn22]

I have been to Disney before as a child and am returning with my family (husband, daughter age 5 and son age 1) for the first time. I am trying to decide where to stay. My main concerns are comfort, affordability and transportation to the parks. With my 1 year old we plan to leave the park occasionally for naps and breaks. Right now we are thinking about staying in a family suite at the All Star Music Resort or the Doubletree suites that are near Downtown Disney. I know the All Star has a bus transportation system and I understand that the Doubletree operates off the Downtown Disney buses.
We are driving to Disney so we will have our car with us. We are going the first week of December.

My questions are:

1. Is there a big difference between the Disney resort buses and the Downtown Disney buses concerning schedules/drop off/ease of use/waiting.

2. Since we are planning on leaving during the day for naps and will be bringing our stroller would it be easier to drive to the park each day?

3. Do you have to pay for parking at the theme parks if staying at a Disney Resort? The Doubletree on property?

Thanks for any help out there!

 

[Missytara]

I can tell once you stay on-site, you never go off-site. It is so much easier to get around and the amenities, such as using the transportation are so much better. You don't even need a car. That is a true vacation, for me, because I have to commute to work every day. When I don't have to drive - I am much more relaxed and it is a better vacation all around. However, if you do enjoy the freedom of having a car, there is no charge parking at the resorts - just parking any of the non-disney resorts, or if you use valet parking.

If you stay off-site, you will be charged $12.00 to park your car at any theme park; but you can hop over to as many parks as you want without being charged again - you just need to have your receipt.

And there aren't just buses, there is the monorail, water taxis, ferry boats, motor launches, etc. that take you everywhere, for all different kinds of experiences. My new favorite is taking the motor launch from MK to the Wilderness Lodge and having dinner in Whispering Canyon. Then I take the regular bus back to DTD (which is a point where you can get to any resort), then take the water taxi back to my resort, which is POR.

 

[Missytara]

I forgot to add, the resort buses and the DTD buses are exactly the same. The DTD buses is a place where they go to all the resorts, so it is a point where people staying on-site use to get to other resorts, for instance for dinner. You will see them get slightly more crowded around dinner time.

I don't know about the Doubletree bus, since I have never stayed off-site.

 

[Missytara]

I just read on allearsnet.com that you do get buses from the Doubletree hotel to each of the theme parks, so you don't have to take your car to the parks if you don't want to - it only has nighttime service to DTD.

So if you want to take a break during the day, you can get back fairly easily. Also, if the budget allows, you can rent strollers at the theme parks.

 

[NancyIL]

I would stay at the All Star Music suite AND drive. With a stroller, using the buses can be a pain - especially at the end of the day when you might have to stand on the way back to the resort. Parking at the parks is free for resort guests.

You don't get Extra Magic Hour when you stay at the Doubletree, and I don't think you get free parking, either.

 

[Jestocost]

The Doubletree does offer a free shuttle service to all four Disney parks, but be advised that it likely will not be as efficient as the transportation offered at the Disney-owned resorts. Doubletree advertises that shuttles leave every 30 minutes, but reports suggest that the schedule actually can be a bit erratic. Also, the buses apparently serve more than one park so you will make an extra park stop coming and going. In addition, the offsite hotels do not pick up and drop off at the same place as the Disney buses, so you will have to walk farther to get to the park or your shuttle, depending on whether you are coming or going. This will be most noticeable at the MK, where you will be dropped off at the TTC and will have to take the ferry or monorail around to the MK. There also typically is no shelter at the bus stops for the offsite shuttles.

Driving has the same issues in terms of distance from the parks, but you have the flexibility to come and go on your own schedule and to go directly to where you want to go.

 

[Brian Noble]

the resort buses and the DTD buses are exactly the same.

Missytara is speaking here of the buses between Disney-owned resorts and the Downtown Disney shopping area.

The OP was asking about transportation at the DTD-Area resorts vs. the Disney-owned resorts. There is a noticeble difference between the two. DTD-Area buses do not come as frequently. If I recall correctly (and I might not) they are also not able to use the bus terminal at the MK gates, and instead go to the Transportation and Ticket Center.

If I was not going to have a car at my disposal, I would absolutely positively stay onsite. If you are looking to save a little money, chances are good that the DTD-Area Doubletree, plus a rental car and theme park parking, is probably going to cost less in total than the All Star family suite with no rental car. If you are driving (and not flying) the Doubletree plus theme park parking is absolutely going to be less expensive.

As for 2: there's just no good way to get from place to place with a stroller. If you use the bus system, you have to fold/hold/unfold it for the bus trip. If you drive yourself, you have to do the same thing on the parking lot trams. It's really important to bring the lightest, easiest-to-fold stroller you have.

When I'm onsite, I usually have my own car, and use it to and from most destinations other than Magic Kingdom (and sometimes even then.) When I'm not in a Disney-owned resort, I always always always use my own car.

 

[Missytara]

Good point, I was thinking do they look the same???

 

[Jestocost]

Good point, I was thinking do they look the same???

The buses that run between the Disney resorts and the parks/DTD are the same. The buses that serve the non-Disney resorts aren't operated by Disney and don't look like the Disney buses.

 

[Uncleromulus]

If you already have your car, I would STRONGLY suggest using it.
The only exception might be if you are going to the MK and then straight back to your hotel.

 

[WillCAD]

I stay on-site for about half of my trips, and off-site for about half. But I always rent a car, and use it to go everywhere.

The WDW transportation system is complete and will take you from anywhere to anywhere on site. You'll never be lost, and will only be stranded if you happen to be out somewhere later than the buses run (which is a rare thing).

But I prefer to drive myself everywhere, including the parks, and including MK, for the convenience of having my own wheels, setting my own schedule, and being able to change my mind on a whim. I also find that self-driving saves me a huge amount of time over the buses on my average 6-8 day trip.

Whichever option you choose, you will be just fine getting around WDW, so don't worry too much. But my personal recommendation is to use your car for all of your transportation needs. It will be much easier getting your stroller folded and packed in a car than on a WDW bus, and you will always be guaranteed a seat.

And yes, parking at the theme parks is free to all on-site Guests. When you check in at a WDW resort, you will be given a parking pass for the windshield of your car that will get you into the parks for the duration of your stay.

 

[jenn22]

Wow! I did not expect such quick replies! Thank you, everyone, for your help!

 

[richmo]

The Doubletree is technically on Disney property, but is not a Disney resort. There is a Downtown Disney bus that hits the resorts on Hotel Plaza Blvd. There's about 5 or 6 of these resorts, so the ride can take awhile. However, this is a lot better than true off property hotels that have shuttles to the parks. They tend to run only a limited number of times per day. The Doubletree is nice, so you would like it! One nice perk is that its directly across the street from Crossroads Plaza, so you can walk to that shopping center, which has a bunch of restaurants (Friday's, Chevy's, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Sweet Tomatoes (which is new..have to check that out myself)) and a nice mini golf course and a grocery store.

I have seen posted that Hotel Plaza Blvd hotel guests do not have to pay parking, but I believe that to be incorrect, unless something changed recently. You'll have to pay the $12. But, since you're dealing with strollers and split days, I'd be inclined to pay it.

One thing you didn't post is how long you're staying. If its maybe 8 nights or more, you might want to consider getting one Annual Pass. That would get you in to the park lots for free, which would save you $96 for 8 days. Plus, there are some other dining and merchandise discounts that may or may not help you.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It's so nice to have a car when you've got little ones. You can use the trunk as a closet and keep extra clothes, diapers, drinks and such in there. After a long (or short) day at the parks you can walk to you car and hop in, even if your kid(s) is/are having a major meltdown. Your baby will have his or her own car seat. So much less stress than taking a bus or worse, WAITING for a bus.

The All Star suites are nice. Staying at a Disney hotel you'll get free parking at any theme park or resort (at $12 a day it adds up!) and it has theming your 5 year old will go nuts for.

Have fun!

I have been to Disney before as a child and am returning with my family (husband, daughter age 5 and son age 1) for the first time. I am trying to decide where to stay. My main concerns are comfort, affordability and transportation to the parks. With my 1 year old we plan to leave the park occasionally for naps and breaks. Right now we are thinking about staying in a family suite at the All Star Music Resort or the Doubletree suites that are near Downtown Disney. I know the All Star has a bus transportation system and I understand that the Doubletree operates off the Downtown Disney buses.
We are driving to Disney so we will have our car with us. We are going the first week of December.

My questions are:

1. Is there a big difference between the Disney resort buses and the Downtown Disney buses concerning schedules/drop off/ease of use/waiting.

2. Since we are planning on leaving during the day for naps and will be bringing our stroller would it be easier to drive to the park each day?

3. Do you have to pay for parking at the theme parks if staying at a Disney Resort? The Doubletree on property?

Thanks for any help out there!

 

[prncess674]

I am not a fan of Disney transportation when I could be driving my own car where I can have all my car comforts, control the air, don't have to sit on plastic bus seats, possibly having to stand on a moving bus and never have to worry about quickly folding up a stroller and then dragging it onto a bus.

Also note that Disney transportation will drop you at the front of the hotel which could be a LONG walk with cranky kids. If you have your own car you can park closer to your room at the All Stars.

Going in early December generally means shorter park hours and I don't enjoy waiting for buses when I know I can be at the park.

 

[Missytara]

Good point about being to bring extra clothes - a friend of mine and his wife took his young children a few years ago, and his son threw up all over himself, as well as him. Instead of getting into the bus transportation, they hailed a cab instead......he wished they had a car. The taxi driver said he was pretty used to it, and even had some extra towels in the trunk to use.....

 

[goofy4tink]

It's so nice to have a car when you've got little ones. You can use the trunk as a closet and keep extra clothes, diapers, drinks and such in there. After a long (or short) day at the parks you can walk to you car and hop in, even if your kid(s) is/are having a major meltdown. Your baby will have his or her own car seat. So much less stress than taking a bus or worse, WAITING for a bus.

The All Star suites are nice. Staying at a Disney hotel you'll get free parking at any theme park or resort (at $12 a day it adds up!) and it has theming your 5 year old will go nuts for.

Have fun!

Absouletly what she said!!!
I would think that if you'll have a car anyway, you should drive it to the parks. It will be so much easier to lug all that stuff kids need, especially strollers!!! I would also go with the AllStars...staying onsite is always a more fun thing to do. I love the Doubletree Resorts...stay in them whenever I can. But not at WDW. You will get more for your dollar if you take a family suite at Music....you'll get the fun theming, the EMHs.

 

[disneymom1]

When my kids were young, we tried the Disney busses on a few visits. Although the busses are fairly reliable and usually arrive every 20 minutes or so, I have waited for 30 minutes or more on several occasions. With tired cranky kids, that's no fun.

For the past several years, we have had a rental car. Yes, it is more expensive than riding Disney busses, but it's much more comfortable and more reliable. If you can afford the extra money for the rental car, I highly recommend it.

As far as on property - off property is concerned, once you have a rental car, it gives you much more flexibility. We have stayed at most of the Disney hotels at least once, and have also stayed at a few hotels just off Disney property. Buena Vista Suites, Caribe Royale Suites, and Nickelodeon Suites are almost on Disney property and, except for Animal Kingdom park, are about the same distance to the parks as the All Star resort. If you really want the Disney theming, then Stay on Disney property.